I found this quote from Pema Chodron‘s weekly heart advice email to be especially relevant to where I am right now. And not just because we’ve had no internet since Friday and I’m writing this post from the Worthington Mall. I’m getting to ask myself very much lately, what is the gift here in this impatience, this irritation, this frustration with the current speed of progress in many areas of my life – career, health, even the state of my living spaces? This quote is also related to last night’s meditation group discussion:

THE PERFECTION OF PATIENCE

Patience is not learned in safety. It is not learned when everything is harmonious and going well. When everything is smooth sailing, who needs patience? If you stay in your room with the door locked and the curtains drawn, everything may seem harmonious, but the minute anything doesn’t go your way, you blow up. There is no cultivation of patience when your pattern is to just try to seek harmony and smooth everything out. Patience implies willingness to be alive rather than trying to seek harmony.